latta



2 sheets-sheet 1. E. G. LATTA VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Get. 20, 1885.

(No Model.)

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. G. LATTA.

VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Oct. 20, 1885 (No Model.)

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Al? 4) .V, agfZw UNITED STATES PATENT QFEICE.

EMMIT G. LATTA, OF FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ADRIAN O. LATTA, OF SAME PLACE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328.693, dated October 20, 1885.

Application filed March 3, 1885. Serial No. 157,658.

(No model.)

As represented in Figs. 1 and 2, the nut D To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMMIT G. LATTA, of is provided with an internal screw-thread, Friendship, in the county of Allegany and which receives theexternal thread of the screw State of New York, have invented new and O, the lower end of thelatter, which fitsin the 55 useful ImprovementsinVeloeipedes, of which upper bore of the steering-head, being made the following is a specification. cylindrical and without a screw-thread. The

This invention relates to an improved conouter side of the nut D is provided with a struction of the steering-head which enables adownwardly-tapering screw-thread, which fits long spindle to be used and permits the parts in a corresponding internal thread formed in 63 to be quickly adjusted and to be rigidly held the upper portion of the steeringhead, so that in place; also to an improved means for securby screwing the nut D down into the steeringing the dust-guard to the steeringhead, and head the screw 0 is clamped and held in place. also to an improved construction of the sup- The nut is preferably split or divided vertiporting parts of the rear wheel, whereby the cally, as represented at d in Fig. 4, whereby 6 rear wheel is made vertically adjustable in the it is enabled to close tightly around the screw rear fork. O in screwing it down into the tapering cavity In the accompanying drawings, consisting of the steering-head. By the wedging action of two sheets, Figure 1 isa side elevation of a of the nut 1) against the steering-head and bicycle provided with my improvements. screw 0 the adjustingscrew O is not only 7c Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of firmly locked against turning, but the screw the steering-head on an enlarged scale. Fig. 0 is also provided with a rigid support around 3 is a horizontal section in line 00 m, Fig. 2. the upper end of the spindle, which prevents Fig. at is a horizontal section in line y y, Fig. all forward or backward movement of the ad 2. Figs. 5, 6, and 7are longitudinal sectional justing-screw in the steering-head when the 75 elevations of the upper portion of the steermachine is in use. This remedies a serious ing-head, showing modified constructions of difliculty existing in the constructions now the same. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the used, in which a check-nut resting on the top central part of the rear wheel and supporting of the steering-head is employed, which is soon parts. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section in linear workedloose by thestrain from the spindle,and 80 0 at, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a vertical section in line causes thelatter to swing backwardly and for- 3 1 Fig. 8. Figs. 11 and 12 are side elevawardly,whereby the top of the spindle is worn tions showing modified constructions of the round or oval, which renders it impossible to support of the rear wheel. Fig. 13 is a horiproperly adjust it. The upper portions of the zontal section in line a; a), Fig. 11. screw 0 and nut D are preferably reduced in 85 Like letters of reference refer to like parts size, as represented in Figs. 2 and 5, to im in the several figures. prove the appearance of the steeringhead, and

A represents the steeringhead, athe spinthe latter is preferably extended upwardly dle arranged in the same and provided with beyond the handle-bar lug, as represented in conical ends or centers at a in the usual manthe same figures, to permit the top of the spino ner. dle to project above the lug and be rigidly A is the neck extending rearwardly from supported around its upper end; but, if dethe spindle, and A is the perch. sired, the parts may be constructed as repreb is the handle-bar lug formed at the front sented in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the top'of side of the steering-head A, and b the handlethe steering-head is on a level with the top of 9 5 bar secured therein. the handle-bar lug. In Fig. 7 the screw 0 is Greprese'nts the adj usting-screw, which bears not contracted at its upper end. This conagainst the upper center, a, and whereby the struction isless expensive and aifordsaslightl y bearings of the centers in the steering-head closer build, and permits the spindle to be are adjusted, andD represents a tubular clamp made considerably higher with safety, because 100 or check-nut, whereby the adjusting-screw O the nut D supports the adjusting-screw O on is secured in the steering-head. the extreme upper end of the nut. The latter 'fit and'prevents noise.

the spindle in the 'steeringhead the lower end the threaded portion of-the nut D is made cylindrieal,and the lower end of the nut is made tapering and arranged to fit in atapering seat in the upper end of the steering-head; or, if preferred, these tapering portions may be arranged at the upper end of the threaded part of the nut.

In the construction represented in Fig.6

the opening in the steering-head is made cyli ndricahand the outer threaded su r'i'ace of the nut D isalso made cylindrical, and the inner surface of the bore of the nut is provided with a tapering portion, which bears against the tapering neck of the screw 0. The screwthread of the nut is preferably made quicker orof greater pitch than that of the screw 0.

, In the; construction represented in Fig. 7 the screw 0 is threaded throughout its whole length and screwed both into the nut D and the'steering-head. This construction is much stronger, but requires greater exactness in fitting, to insure the proper working of the threads of the parts.

In all of these constructions the nut D is wedged between the screw 0 and the steeringhead. whereby the screw 0 is firmly clamped in position after having been adjusted.

It is[ obvious that the nuts D may be split throughout their whole length or only a part of their length, and that, if only split for a part of their length, several slots may be formed in the nuts, if desired.

Erep'resents the dust-guard applied to the rc'ar'side of'the steering-head A to cover the opening in the same through which the neck 'Apasses.

g F representsaspring-clamp, whichis seated with 'its back against a shoulder, f, formed in the under side of the neck A, and which bears with 'its ends against the dust-,guard,-the said ends being'provided'with pins orprojections fflwhich enter openings in the dust-guard. The spring-clamp F holds theguard securely againstthe steering-head and insures a close Upon slightly raising of the spindle can bedrawn back far enough to permit the spring F tobe' put in place or to be removed, and the act of securingthe spindle compresses the spring and secu res the dustgu'ard.

It is obvious that the projections maybe formed on the dust-guard and the openings in the spring.

G'represents the rear fork, and H represents the rear wheel arranged between the jaws of the rear fork. i v

his the hub 'of the rear wheel, h" 71. thefeones arranged on the inner sides-of the fork-arms and projecting into the hub, h the balls interposed between the cones and the annular grooves in the hub, and I the supportinglower ends of the arms of the fork G and supporting the bolt I.

In the construction represented in Figs. 8 and 10 the lugs J are constructed with vertically-elongated openings j, through which the bolt I passes, and in which the bolt is made vertically adjustable.

t represents the head of the bolt, and i the screw-nut applied to the opposite end of the bolt.

K isa washer interposed between the screwnut 43' and the adjacent outer side of the lug J. The washer K is provided on its rear side with one-or more horizontalribs, k, which entergrooves formed in the outer sides of the lug J, whereby the washer is firmly supported on the lug against vertical displacement, thereby'holding the bolt I securely in place. The cone h 'is provided on its upper side with similar ribs, k", which enter grooves in the inner side'of the adjacent lug J,whereby this end of the supporting-boltI is similar] y secured. The interlocking ribs and grooves of the cone h? and lug J hold the cone from turning. Upon loosening the nut t" the washer can be raised or lowered on the lug J, thereby adjusting the height of thebolt I and turning the front end of the backbone forwardly or backwardly, whereby the rake --ot' the machine is reduced or increased. This enables the rider to adjust the machine to the best application of his strength on goodroads or for safety on poor roads, or a beginner can adjust it for safety while learning to ride and afterward reduce the rake and adjust the ma chine for a more direct application of power. The bearings of therear wheel are adjusted in the usual manner byloosening the nut z" and screwing up the cone h In the construction represented in Figs. 11 and 13 the slot j is extended downwardly through the lower end of the lug J dividing the latter into two vertical jaws. The outer sides of the j aws are provided with two vertical rows of openings, m, in which engage pins n,

secured to the washer K, whereby the washer is supported on the lug and the jaws arepre- Vented from spreading.

In the construction represented in Fig. 12

the lug J is provided with a series of holes for the reception of the supportingbolt I. This construction is less expensive and very strong, but not as convenient, because it necessitates the removal of the supporting-bolt screw and steeringhead, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, withthe steering-head and spindle, of an adjusting-screw embracing the upper end of the spindle, and a tubular check-nut provided with a tapering portion and arranged between the adj usting-screw and steering-head, wherebyjthe nut is wedged between said parts in tightening it, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the steering-head and spindle, of an adj usting-screw embracing the upper end of the spindle, and a tapering tubular check-nut split lengthwise, and arranged between the adjusting-screw and steering-head, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the steering-head and neck A, of the dust-cap E, and a springclamp, F, seated in the neck and interposed between the neck and the dust-cap to press the latter against the steering-head, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the steering-head and neck A, of the dust-cap E, and the springclamp F, seated against a shoulder in the neck A, and provided with projections f, which enter openings in the dust-cap, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the perch'and the rear fork rigidly secured thereto, of the rear wheel, a support for the latter made vertically adjustable in the rear fork, and means, substantially as described, whereby the wheelsupport is rigidly secured in the fork after adjustment, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the rear fork having lugs J, provided with vertical slots j, of the rear wheel, H, the supporting-bolt I, provided with nut i, Washer K, and interlocking depressions and projections formed on the contiguous faces of the washer and lug, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the rear fork having lug J, provided with vertical slots j, of the rear'wheel, H, the supporting-bolt I, pro- 45 vided with nut z", cone h, and the washer K, and cone it, having projections interlocking with depressions in the contiguous sides of the lugs J, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 28th day of February, 50 1885.

EMMIT G. LATTA.

\Vitnesses:

F. B. CHURCH. E. W. BROWN. 

